Metal building screen



Sept. 6, 1932. c;A E. BRITTEN 1,876,486

METAL BUILDING SCREEN Filed March `l5, 1932 gmentoz v Patented Sept. 6,1932 i UNITED STATES CHARLESE. BRITTEN,. OF APOLLO, PENNSYLVANIA METALBUILDING SCREEN 'Ihis invention relates to` vmetal building screens, andmore particularly to screen door structures.

` AThe f advantages of metal screen structures for the doors and windowsof buildings are obvious,A such metal vstructures being unaffected by4moisture which causes the wooden frame structures of door and windowscreens to swell and warp. Moreover, a metal structure forV window ordoor screens, when made* of the proper materialand protected by paint orother surface coating composition will be far more durable than thewooden structures heretofore employed. However, metallic structures forthe purpose stated ordinarily are open to the disadvantage thatv theycannot betrimmed for accurate fitting to door or window openings ascan'wooden constructions.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a metallicdoor or window screen'which is adjustable whereby it` may be accuratelyfitted into the desired opening. vA Vfurther object is to provide novelmeans for adjusting the over-all size of'a metallic door or windowscreen wherein the adjustmentmay be easily and accurately accomplished.Y

A further object is to provide a device of l the character referred towherein the adjusting action andv for protecting the screen fabric fagainst distortion while adjustments are being made. e

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the drawing I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In thisshowing: Y Figure l is a side elevation of a screen door, Figure 2 isasection on lineV 2 2 of Figure 1, parts being broken away,

Figure-3 is a similar view on line 3-3 of Figure l, v

ApplicationV med Mannr 15,` 1932. serial No. 599,026. l I

' Figure 4 is a similar view yon line 4 4 of Figure l,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of thescreen supporting C.,

lframe and associated elements, and,

Figure 6 is a similar view of the upper end ofthe door,l parts beingshown separated.

- Referring to the drawing, the numeral'lO designates a holding andsupporting frame ,m for the wire fabricll of the door or screen. T50 Theframe 10 is preferably formed-of a solid rod of circular cross section,although it will be apparent that any suitable material may be employed.The frameisbent preferably l into rectangular shape to form verticalside rails 12 and upper and lower horizontal rails 13.V The wire 4fabricis cut to a size corresponding to the opening within the frame 10, andis then'placed within the opening and s brafzed, welded or otherwisesecured to the rails of the frame.

The rails of the wire supporting frame are adapted to be concealedwholly within a metalframe structure. Referring to Figure l, it f willbe noted that the metallic frame comprises generally a pair of verticalparallel side frame members 14 and upper and lower i horizontal framesl5 and 16. Each of these frames is identical in cross sectional shape,y... and such shape is indicated in Figure 2. It '80 will be apparentthat each of the metallic frames is of a hollowv channel shape with itsends turned inwardly to form angular lips 1,7 defining a relativelysmall opening-therebetween. This opening is spaced for the reception ofthefwire cloth 11, but is materially smaller than the rails -of thesupporting frame 10. v f v 'Angle pieces 18 are arranged in oppositepairs at each corner of the main or outer frame. Each of these cornerpieces is substantially L-shaped, as shown in Figure 6,

Vand includes inturned lips or flanges 19 at its outer edges adapted tooverlie the outer edge portions of the hollow frame. As indicated, theflanges 19 are vof such width that their edges abut as shown at theright-hand side o f Figure 6. rlhe inner edges of the angle pieces turninwardly at an angle as at 20 to lie against the angular lips 17.Accordingly mi ring to Figures 1 and 4, the numeral 24 designates a pairof channel members arranged with their open sides adjacent the wirecloth and forming intermediate frame members. These frame members extendinto the side frame members 14, and for this purpose, the sides of theframe members 14 are parallel throughouttheir width at the point wherethe frame members 24 enter thereinto instead of being provided'with theangular lips 17. A plate 25 has one end Welded or otherwise securedagainst each outer face of each of the framemembers 14 and projectsinwardly therebeyond. Each of the plates 25 is provided'with a slot 26,and a screw 27 extends through this slot and has threaded connectionwith an opening formed by stamping a boss 28 inwardly from .the adjacentframe member 24. The screw and slot arrangement just described issimilar in construction and purpose to the similar means previouslydescribed in connection with the corner pieces 18.

Each supporting frame rail 12 and 18 is provided adjacent each corner ofthe supporting frame with a small nut or block 29 preferably weldedthereto. Screws 30 are threaded in these nuts or blocks, and it will beapparent that the vertical and horizontal screws of each corner of theframe 1() are offset from each other sufficiently to provide clearancetherebetween. This is preferably accomplished by slightly offsetting theblocks 29 at each corner of the frame, as will be apparent. The screws30 adjacent the heads thereof extend through openings 31 formed in theVadjacent hollow frame members, and each screw is provided adjacent suchopening with a flange 32. These flanges are placed in posi* tion afterthe screws are inserted and are spot welded or otherwise secured to therespective screws.'

Each of the hollow frame members may be provided with any suitable formof grooving or the like for the purpose of ornamentation andreinforcement. ln the present instance, each of the hollow frame membersis shown as being provided with a groove 33 forming a reinforcing bead.lf desired, the frame members 24 may be similarly grooved for L, vthesame purpose. vWhen the device is embodied in a door structure, suchstructure may be provided with any suitable form of hinges 34.

The operation of the device is as follows: rlhe inner structurecomprising the wire cloth and frame 10 is formed in the mannerpreviously described by cutting the cloth to the proper size, bendingthe frame into the desired rectangular form, and then welding orotherwise securing the edges of the wireV to the frame 10. Thus asubstantially rigid supporting structure for the wire is provided,andthe wire is held to its proper width and height to prevent bucklingor distortion thereof. The rails 12 and 13 of the supporting frame areplaced within the outer hollow frames 14, v15 and 16 by springing apartthe lips 17 thereof a'suviiicient distance to permit the inner framestructure to pass therebetween. With the ends -of the screws 30 insertedin the nuts or blocks l29, screw,H

drivers may be applied to the head-s of the screws to' turn them andthus move the hollow frames inwardly with respect to the supportingframe 10. The corner plates are then applied in position andare held insuch po-f sitionvby application of the screws 22. The intermediate framemembers-24 become inserted in their desired positions with respect tothe side frames 14 as the lattery are moved inwardly 'when assemblingvthe de- Y vice. Outward distortion of the side frame members 14intermediate their ends is pre vented by tightening the screws 27.

When it is desired to accurately adjust the door to the desired size,the screws27 are slightly loosened,"whereupon the screws 22 are loosenedsufhciently to permit the portions of the corner pieces 18 adjacent thescrew heads to be spread apart a sufficient distance to permit the endofthe screwdriver `to be inserted into the slots of the screws.

These screws `are then turned as desired to increase or diminish thewidth and/or height ofthe door, whereupon the 'screws 22 and 27 aretightened. These screws positively prevent relative movement 'betweenthe parts, althoughl relative movement at the corners of the door willbe prevented by the screws 30, since these elements prevent any members.It will'be obvious that the screws 30 function either to enlarge ordecrease the size of the door. When drawing the hollow frame membersinwardly, the heads of the screws contact with the frame members,l

4Jus sliding movement between the hollow frame Ved to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined.

claims.

I claim: 1. A device of the character described comprising asubstantially rigid frame, a

sheet of material secured at its edges to said frame, a hollow frame' inwhich said rigid frame is arranged and including a plurality of separatesections, and means connected between said sections and said rigid framefor moving the former toward and away tromv said rigid frame. y

2. A Vdevice of the character described comprising a rigid continuousframe, a sheet ot material corresponding in shape to and secured at itsedges to said frame, a hollow Vframe corresponding in shape to saidrigid frame and including a plurality of separate sections each adaptedto receive one side of said rigid frame, and means connected betweensaid sections and said rigid frame for moving the former toward and awayfrom the latter.

3. A device of the character described comprising a substantially rigidrectangular frame, a sheet of material corresponding in shape to saidframe and Vsecured at its edges thereto, a hollow frame corresponding inshape to and receiving said rigid frame, said hollow frame comprising aplurality of separate sections each receiving one side of said rigidframe, means connected between said sections and said rigid frame Vformoving the former toward and away from the latter, and means connectedbetween the adjacent ends of said sections and operative for preventingmovement therebetween.

4. A device of the character described comprising a substantially rigidframe, a sheet of material secured at its edges to said frame, a hollowframe in which said rigid frame is arranged and including a plurality ofseparate sections, means connected between said sections and said rigidframe for moving the former inwardly and outwardlyA frame, a sheet ofmaterial corresponding in shape to Vsaidv frame and secured l,at itsedges thereto, a hollow frame f corresponding in shape to and receivingysaid rigid frame, said hollow' -frame comprising a' plurality ofseparate sections each receiving-one side of said rigidframameansconnected` between said sections andsaid rigid'frame'fo'r moving theformer towardand away from the latter. :cornerp'ieces'ior the respectivecorners of vsaid yhollow frame,.and means for securing vsaidcornerpieces to theadjacent endsor` the v-adjacent sections in adjustedpositions lwith v-respectthereta 'I V6.r4 Adevice constructed inaccordance with -claim 5 wherein said last named means comn I.priseslascrew threaded 1n each'end of each v section, each corner piece-4bein@v provided with slotsv in alinement with the adjacent sectionsandfthrough which saidiscrewsextend. 7. kA device ofthe characterdescribed comprising a substantially rigid frame, a sheet of materialsecured at its edges to said frame, a hollow frame in which said rigidframe is arranged and including a plurality of separate sections, and aplurality of screws operative for moving said sections inwardly andoutwardly with respect to said rigid frame, said screws' being rotatablein and fixed againstlongitudinal movement with respect to said sectionsand being threaded in portions of said rigid frame. 8. `A device of thecharacter described comprising a rigid continuous frame, a sheet ofmaterial corresponding in shape to and secured at its edges to saidframe, a hollow .frame corresponding in shape to said rigid frame andincluding a plurality of separate sections each adapted to receive oneVside of said rigid frame, nuts carried by said rigid frame, and screwsthreaded in said nuts, said screws being rotatable in and longitudinallyfixed against movement with respectto said sections. n

9. A device of the character described comprising a substantially rigidrectangular frame, a sheet of material corresponding in shape to saidframe and secured at its edges thereto, a hollow frame corresponding inshape to said rigid frame and comprising a plurality of sections eachreceiving one side of said rigid frame, a screw carried by each sectionadjacent each end thereofand projecting inwardly at right anglestherefrom, each screw being rotatable and longitudinally ixed withrespect to its associated section, and nuts carried by said rigid frameand in which said screws are threaded.

10. A device constructed in accordance with claim 9 provided with meansvconnected between the adjacent ends of said sections and operative forpreventing movement therebetween.

11. A device constructed in accordance with claim 9 provided with cornerpieces connected between the adjacent ends of the adjacent sections andeach provided with a slot parallelfto one of vthe adjacent sections, anda screw .extendingthrough each slot and threaded in the adjacentsection.

12. A device constructed in 'accordance with claim 9 provided with apair of corner pieces lying against opposite faces of said hollow' frameat each corner thereof and eX- tending between the adjacent ends of theadjacent sections, each corner piece being provided with a slot parallelto one of the adjacent sections, and a screw extending through each slotand threaded in the adj acent section, each pair of corner pieces-beingprovided with anges overlying the edge portionsr of the adjacentsections and covering the heads of said first named screws. l

In testimony whereof I aiiix `my signa ture.

` CHARLES E. BRITTEN.

